In its infancy, ThrashMetal, was awe-inspiring. There was Voivod, Exciter, Venom, Metallica, and Slayer all with hard to come by albums as all were released on small independant record labels (Music for Nations, Combat, Metal Blade, Megaforce). But, true to its underground roots, even MetalHeads that lived in the then smallish town of Missoula, Montana could get ahold of an album (most times a crappy cassette recording) simply by underground trading. There was no internet so snail-mail was the only way. It worked easily but for the delay of snail-mail. All one had to do was check out the classifieds in metal magazines and send a reply.
Eventually Budget CD’s & DVD’s opened, although back then it was Budget Record’s & Tape’s. Budget has always (and forever will) have an extensive amount of Metal music, and not just the type you see on Billboard 200.
Having been listening to Mercyful Fate and Motorhead for years, ThrashMetal was natural progression of sorts. And when Budget opened its doors it brought with it ThrashMetal by the truckloads. To name a few: Overkill, Anthrax, Kreator, Obituary, Celtic Frost, and Megadeth. I still remember what I was doing the first time I heard that classic bass intro to Peace Sells and that bass line has forever been ingrained into my psyche.

Megadeth was like Metallica (in many ways as I am sure you know) but man, was that singer pissed off or what? He didn’t scream as much as he growled and snarled bitter lyrics along to aggressive music. Then too, he also sang lyrics that told intricate stories with just as much vehemence in his voice as the political lyrics. Megadeth appealed to our anger-of-youth and rabid fascination for all things Thrash. Had we known then just how much Dave Mustaine played a key role in the development of the ThrashMetal genre, he and Megadeth would have been huge from the get-go and not years later. They had popularity from playing ability but were always in Metallica‘s shadow.
Now days I can say without any doubt, there would not have been ThrashMetal without Dave Mustaine. It is his guitar prowess and respect for theory that permeates early releases by Metallica. Sorry Metallica, you’re good, Dave Mustaine is better.

Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? was a breath of fresh air or a bitch-slap upside the head, depending on who you ask. It was not their first release but it was many peoples first encouter with Megadeth. It is considered a classic ThrashMetal album, but, the line-up that plays on the album is not considered the classic Megadeth line-up, Still, Chris Poland is an excellent guitarist and among the Dave’s, Ellefson and Mustaine, he seems right at home. Gar Samuelson, the drummer for the album… Megadeth had, just my opinion, three okay drummers before finding and keeping one who’s proficiency with his chosen instrument matched that of the guitars and bass. Later on that.